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Product Review Summary: Photo Book This book is a one of a kind unique book. Amazon delivers with such care and the used books are like brand new. And to top it off it's really cheap :) Better than your school's sudent stores. I recomend Amazon to everyone who wants to buy books for college students.
Product Review Summary: Required College Photog Class Book Using this book in my Photography History class. Very well done and was a great choice for our text by my professor.
I will be keeping this book in my library for times to come. Great reference to history of PHOTOGRAPHY!! Amazon has the best prices going, about 45% lower than our on-campus book store...
V/R
Kent M Whitney
Product Review Summary: Certainly a fine book, but not a five-star Hirsch's new edition of his Seizing the Light is now properly titled, with "Social History of Photography" in the title. The addition of the word "social" creates a proper title for a book that puts so much emphasis on the social context. This is a fine book on the history of photography, no question about that. There is much to be admired in this book and it certainly does belong on the shelf of anyone who wants such a reference. It provides a wealth of information and is pleasant to read. But, unless changes were made from the earlier edition (which is the one I have and am commenting on) it is not perfect. Since most of the reviews glow with admiration, let me not trouble you with more praise, but let me comment on a couple of things that trouble me about the book.
While there is much to admire about this book, my admiration for the book is tempered by two things bother me about this book: (1) the strange treatment and absences in the case of some of the icons who are no longer with us and (2) an almost clinical listing of numerous younger photographers. The latter presents us with something like a catalog listing with no basis for the decision on who to include and who to leave out, with some important contemporary figures not even mentioned.
The failure to give much print or discussion to some amazingly influential and important photographers is what troubles me most about this book. For example, Brett Weston, a major figure in the history of photography, is barely mentioned and I recall no examples of his work in the book (my edition). Similarly, Margaret Mather, a gifted photographer in her own right, and indeed a photographer who greatly influenced the photographic development of Edward Weston, is also barely mentioned. These are major lapses in a book that is a history of photography. There are others. But, when paragraphs are devoted to younger and far less relevant photographers, the absence of any serious mention of some of the major earlier figures is disturbing.
All that said, I am glad I own this book and would buy it again even after seeing my own review. It is basically a fine book by a capable author - in spite of my quibbles.
Product Review Summary: Very quick! This product was exactly how it was described and I received it VERY quickly which I completely appreciate.
Product Review Summary: Great history book There's a lot of photography history books out there, and this is one of my favorites. This is great for someone looking for basic history or for someone that's looking for a little more. While like most large bulk history books it doesn't go overly in depth but its a great springboard for photo history.
I would recommend this book for anybody getting into photography both student and hobbyist.
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